Vocations and Initial Formation Resources

Newly professed were asked by the CRA Initial Formation Committee to reflect on their journey to profession and what their hopes for the future were. The following is a collection of their responses which are shared with permission, providing an invaluable resource and insight for future Religious.

Note that all participant writing is of its original source.

When Jane Maisey was asked about her experience of living a religious life in a contemporary society, she couldn’t help but reflect on her journey. To read her colourful story called Beautiful Imagination, click the link below:

“In 2016 my car wheels rolled to stillness in a rural south Australian town. As I gently placed the gear stick into park, I looked up at the house I was to stay in for the next little while. The Sister inside was someone I had never met, yet as a novice on pastoral experience, she generously offered to open her home and life to me…” Click here to read more.

My hope for Religious Life into the future
Creation constantly evolves, therefore religious life is evolving too. Stereotypes and discourses abound, often restricting revealing creations' grandeur. I hope we can have the courage to say ‘yes’ to our callings, to embrace living religious life in new evolving ways, blowing away stereotype cobwebs. Embracing loving creation in beauty, goodness, and truth. Imagining, discerning, living—as new wine in new relational trinitarian wineskins. AMDG.

The reflections and encounters of newly professed are many. Read how Matthew Pinson reflects on the three best things about being a Jesuit. Click on the link below to read more:

“From time to time, people ask me, “What’s the best thing about being a Jesuit?”, and I have a ready answer, or three! My third favourite thing about being a Jesuit is the long formation. It gives us so much time to reflect on our lives, to recognise what moves or motivates us and our particular strengths and tendencies…” Click here to read about Matthew’s reflections.

My hope for Religious Life in this moment of history
”Although the circumstances are new, my hope for religious life is as it always has been to witness the radicality of Christ's call to love our neighbours, and hence to support others as they seek to understand and follow their own call from God. The simple, outward-looking life that we take on through our vows of chastity, poverty and obedience looks much as it has for centuries, modelled as it is on the life of Jesus. The ways we can serve others are always changing in a globalised, technologically focused world. But the heart of our lives remains encounter and love: for our brothers and sisters in community, for those we work for and alongside, and for the whole world that Jesus came to give new life.”

In this reflection, Maria Theresa Dao describes Community Life, and the Journey to Holiness. She describes how living in a community brings many gifts: Personal prayer; Gratitude and being actively involved in the service of others.

“Believing and following a relational God, religious community life has become a treasure and a pearl of great price to me. The same is also true for what I struggle most in living out my religious vocation - community life. This article attempts to share my gifts of living in a religious community which brings me the joy to move forward with human authenticity along the journey to holiness…” To read Maria Theresa Dao’s full experience, click here.

“My hope for Religious Life in this moment of history is founded on my belief in the call and living it out authentically. The hope would be expressed through focusing on ongoing formation in all aspects of growing to wholeness, especially delving into the Word of God so as to live the Joy of the Gospel.”

Rachel McLoughlin shares two reflections, ‘What I See’ and ‘Following’. For a beautiful and creative way of sharing her reflections, click the links below to read in full.

What I see.
”I see community,
with laughter, and people joining in,
sharing food and drink,
and their thoughts and experiences,
a genuine interest in each other…” To read this reflection, click here.

Following.
“Above all, follow the footsteps of Jesus.
We can quite easily find ourselves lost on many different paths…” Click here to read this reflection in full.

My hope for Religious Life in this moment of history
“Life giving communities where all people feel welcome and encounter Jesus’s love. More and more places of healing and hope that spring up throughout the world.”

Being called to Religious life can be full of enriching experiences. But, it can also have some challenges. In this refection, Pauline Helu talks about embracing the challenges of religious life. To read her full story, click the link below.

“I could write a book about the difficulties and challenges I've encountered as a twenty-first-century young religious. Ever since I had my first Profession, I've discovered that life is far more difficult than I anticipated.

Almost everyone nowadays has access to a cell phone or other form of technology… I'm currently living with Sisters of different ages and cultures/ethnicity. My second language is English, and it's easy for me to get left out of some conversations…” To read how Pauline has learnt to embrace change, click here.

What is your hope for Religious Life in this moment of history?

“My hope for Religious life is that we can stand up high in public and be a witness follower of Christ. Don’t let our past history stop us from proclaiming God’s words to humanity. Religious now are getting fewer and fewer but there’s faith and hope that we may inspire a lot of young ones to serve God in this life. We can only do that if we don’t hide our light under the bed but let it shine.”

Community, inspiration, joy, support - these are some of the ways in which religious life can touch someone who has the calling. Sr Tram Pham describes in her reflection, the challenges that have arisen and describes how the calling to serve God can appear in so many different ways. To read her reflection, click the link below.

“Religious life is like other vocations. There is joy but it also has its own challenges. As a Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth, we build up a strong community. We pray, share meals together and also, we work together in the place where we live. For me I love this way of living where the example of Holy Family is put in place. I feel so much joy and support from others. But it also has its own challenges because we are a group of women, who do not choose to live with each other. We choose to live only for God, and God alone…” To read Sr Tram Pham’s reflection click here.

What is your hope for Religious Life in this moment of history?
“My hope for religious life is to be true to our vocation, to spread the unconditional love to everyone we meet, to be proud of who we are. Even though religious vocation can sound weird for some people, we have faith to trust in the Lord who is still calling people to religious vocation, and hope that through our witnesses we will inspire young people to generously open their hearts to respond to God’s call.”

In life, the uncertainty that decisions bring can be unsettling. This applies to people called to religious life as well. Especially when the mystery of questions such as ‘I wonder whether it was my destiny to become a sister?’ come to mind. It is the trust in God, and that all paths will be a learning discovery to let go of impermanence. Read how Kim Nguyen describes her call to religious by clicking on the link below.

“Life is a mystery that constantly takes me by surprise. God calls everyone, not according to our expectations, but in His own way. When I reflect on my vocation call, sometimes I wonder whether it was my destiny to become a sister? The feelings are very scattered. However, I see how everything that has happened in my life has been God’s plan for me, and I know that God chose me, since He knows me better than I know myself…” Click here to read Kim’s full reflection.

What is your hope for Religious Life in this moment of history?
”Be open to the Holy Spirit and live our vocation call with joy and hope. We live and do everything that is entrusted to us in this moment and the rest, trust in the work of God.”

Feelings of inauthenticity and competing fears is not uncommon when learning how to navigate both worlds - that of a vowed Canossian life, and of the complexities of contemporary Australia. Read Monique’s reflection of living the Canossian Charism in Contemporary Australia.

“As a Canossian educator I strive to accompany young people with love and humility in imitation of the Crucified Christ, our foundational charism. I believe one’s life of consecration is ever evolving in dialogue with the society in which they live, while remaining grounded in their particular charismatic norms.

Yet along the way, I am finding that the students impart to me new imaginings of what a Canossian educator concretely looks like” Click here to read Monique’s inspiring reflection.

What are you hopes for Religious Life?

“My hopes for religious life at this moment in history is that Religious continue to be recognised as witnesses to Christ in an uncertain world, that they are people of prayer, and that they remain relevant and responsive to the signs of the times. Religious life is a unique gift to the church and broader society; I am also hopeful for the flourishing of new vocations and the enrichment of those already called to this vocation. The beauty and pain of the world together are a continual reminder of the Paschal mystery and our invitation to be a part of it; I also foster the hope that Religious continue to be open to entering into this story and genuinely walking with others as instruments of God's love.”

As a newly ordained priest, Joshua shares his reflection in the way in which sacrifices are made. The devotion to the path of Jesus and to fulfil the will of God is at the forefront of every step. Read Joshua’s in depth thoughts and reflection on his experience of living a Religious life in a contemporary society.

“Following in the footsteps of our saviour, Jesus Christ, we truly empty ourselves each day in our ministry of priesthood. In saying that, all vocations lead to this. All vocations lead an individual to empty themselves for the sake of another. But all vocations do this in a particular way and the particularity of the priestly and religious vocation is the one I have experienced and which I share with you.” To read the full reflection, click here.

Hopes for Religious life

“My hope for Religious Life in this moment of history is that it will have the possibility to shine out to a world that needs it. I hope that through the powerful witness of religious sisters, brothers and priests, the world will see how rewarding it is to give one's life to God. I hope that young people will see the benefit and richness of following this vocation and will continue to offer themselves in service to God's church and to our whole world.”

Leaving home in Vietnam and becoming a Religious Sister was a big step for Sr Hanh Tran. The journey has had its challenges, as she once felt there was something missing from her heart. She has felt that God is travelling with her on this journey to Australia, and she now feels that this vocation touches her heart in so many ways.

“Thanks be to God for all His blessings that I have received as a Temporary Professed Sister of the Sisters of Nazareth. It has been almost six years since I entered the Congregation, those years are not very long, but for me, it is a precious journey of discerning my vocation so far. I believe that God is journeying with me when I am looking back or even now, as I am counting the blessings everyday. Despite all the challenges of religious life, I still find peace through prayers, joy in serving God through others especially the elderly are very much part of my life.” To read Sr Tran’s full reflection, click here.

Hope for Religious Life
“I hope there will be more people courageously and generously following God’s calling, willing to stand up for their faith and let our heart be guided by the love of Christ.”

Has anyone ever posed this question to you, ‘Why did you become Religious?’ Or, perhaps you have encountered people who have the perception that Religious are of a higher level. Sr Than shares a clear perspective of how this vocation called to her.

“If someone asks me, why did you choose the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth? I would answer it is a mystery, God has called me, and I respond through the help of some spiritual people.

I live in the time where people think that vocation to a religious has a higher level than others. They look up to those people and treat them differently. They think that those religious and priesthood are the people chosen by God…” To read this reflection, click here.

Hope for Religious Life
I hope Religious Life will increase not only in quantity but also in quality. Be open and receive what the Holy Spirit inspires. Do not lose hope because not many young people join Religious Life, instead just accept and do the best we can. Do not be afraid to follow Jesus. Listen to your heart and respond to Him genuinely and wholeheartedly.

Have you been called to paint a picture, write a book…become a Religious sister? Donnabelle explains how she encourages someone who may feel confused and unsure as to what vocation they wish to follow - She says, ‘Have someone accompany you in your discernment, try to identify which religious congregation you are called to, and finally, to listen to the ear of your heart.’  Read on for a beautiful reflection about the gift of a particular charism and how this shaped Donnabelle.

“Each of us is called to a particular vocation in life. In my case, I am certain that I am called in this way of life. How did I come to the point of knowing this? Well, aside from the sign that I asked from God, my own personal charism leads me in this way of life. Theologian Wilfred Harrington, OP, explains that charism which comes from the Greek word charisma means free gift, favor. In religious language we called it the free gift of grace. It is a free gift because it is gifted to us by the Holy Spirit for building up the body of Christ, which means it links with love, service and the common good.” Click here to read her full reflection.

Hope for Religious Life
”My Hope for Religious Life in this moment of history is to continue to respond to what is being asked of us; first, is to evolve according to the calling of the signs of the times, evolving charism and the movement and leading of the Spirit; second is to create a community of hope and continue to be a joyful messenger of the good news and beauty”.